On August 24, 1923, the inaugural Rotary Adelaide meeting took place, marking the official launch of this community-driven organisation. Over the years, Rotary Adelaide has grown to become South Australia’s oldest and largest Rotary Club, boasting an impressive membership of around 160 like-minded people.
Rotary Adelaide President Cam Pearce said Rotary in South Australia has a proud past and a bright future. “We are extremely proud to celebrate our centenary in 2023. This is a major milestone for our organisation. In the last 100 years, Rotary Adelaide has grown and evolved to become a progressive and innovative organisation,” says Cam.
“We are driven by our core values, service, integrity, diversity, fellowship, and leadership. Our members are a group of like-minded people who leverage their networks, skills, and expertise to create community impact.”
Its members come from a diverse range of professional backgrounds, with a vibrant mix of diversity in terms of gender and ethnicity.
For 100 years, volunteers from Rotary Adelaide have supported the South Australian community with a variety of projects, from hot meals at Hutt St Centre right through to funding important research and distributing over $4.5 million to a range of local community organisations.
Centenary projects
Peace poles
Among the key community projects Rotary Adelaide aims to deliver this year is the popular Peace Poles initiative.
Rotary Adelaide will be distributing 100 peace poles to celebrate 100 years of Rotary in South Australia throughout 2023. The Peace Poles symbolise the message of peace, inspiring unity among people from around the world.
Chronic disease prevention project
Rotary in South Australia will fund two Aboriginal PhD scholarships, worth more than $250,000 as part of a newly developed major chronic disease prevention project aimed at improving the health outcomes of Indigenous Australians.
The Aboriginal Chronic Disease Prevention Project will be delivered in partnership with the School of Public Health at the University of Adelaide and the Wardliparinggi Aboriginal Health Equity Theme at the South Australian Health and Medical Research Centre (SAHMRI), with Australian Rotary Health also a key supporter of the project.
